Police move in on Thai protesters

Thai police clashed with crowds of anti-government protesters at the prime minister's compound today as violence broke out in Bangkok.

Around 400 officers tried to oust hundreds of demonstrators from the grounds of Government House early this morning.

But they were pushed back by the anti-corruption activists armed with golf clubs, batons and bamboo sticks.

Police later moved in to issue a court order evicting more than 1,000 protesters. They have gathered in the compound in Bangkok since Tuesday to try to overthrow Samak Sundaravej's seven-month-old regime.

Demonstrators formed a chain around their leaders as officers moved through their ranks to issue the order.

People's Alliance for Democracy leader Samran Rodpeth said: "Brothers, please come and surround our leaders to prevent the police from getting them."

One of the top alliance leaders, Chamlong Srimuang, said they would defy the court order: "Our political rallying will get stronger because more of our supporters from upcountry will come to help us. We will not back down."

The alliance accuses the coalition government of being a puppet for exprime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a 2006 coup and is now in self-imposed exile in London.